Monday 14th November marked the start of Antibiotic Resistance Week! Huge numbers of people are inadvertently putting themselves at risk and do not have a CLUE what is happening or understand the full extent of this global issue. So, here we are to clear things up for you (yes, YOU). With the rise of bacteria resistant to treatment, consequences are becoming ever present in societies across the planet.

To understand the true gravity of the situation and why this week exists, here are some FAQs with answers from Public Health England…

Q: So, what in Heaven’s name is Antibiotic Resistance anyway?

It’s when bacteria become resistant to our antibiotics so the medicines no longer kill the bacteria

Q: Yikes… What are the causes?

It happens naturally over time, especially when they’re taken with no need or the wrong antibiotics are administered

Q: Hold on a second, can we not just develop new ones?!

The last time a major new class of antibiotics was introduced was during the 80s!

Q: Fudge. But how many people are actually dying from it so far? Surely it’s not taking it’s toll yet?

It’s estimated 25,000 in Europe alone have suffered

Noticeably for the UK, a recent outbreak of the STI Gonorrhoea (HL-AziR) has raised concerns much further, ESPECIALLY for sexually active 18-25-year-olds who are most at risk. This particular strain of the STD has become resistant to treatment, becoming extremely hard to contain, and dubbed ‘Super-Gonorrhoea’ by the press (to read up further on that particularly sticky situation, click here)

With 1 in 3 people taking antibiotics at least once a year, it is important that more people take notice of what’s going on and start thinking about measures to protect yourselves and your families.

For 18-25s everywhere, with the current state of resistant STDs, the advice is simple: EVERYONE can significantly reduce their risk by using condoms with all new and casual partners. And this, people, is just one of the reasons we are doing what we are at GiftCondom. Protect your loved ones TODAY!